There is a period correct chin and an incorrect chin. It is one of the most vulnerable parts of the car and relatively easy to replace. My early car has a late chin. There are correct parts by year and this car (like many) is all over the board.
I think that my personal observation of the chin on this car was flawed. The picture indeed makes the outer vent look small. However, the spacing between the last vent and the bumper mount indicates that it is an early chin, not late. That was my fault. So the restoration photos match.
I made my observations initially in private without broadcasting my views. Now I am in a position to justify them. The car looks weird, the VIN looks weird. The parts don’t match. That was my private observation. Again, I was wrong about the chin.
What I told the interested party was that I have owned two very rusty cars and looked over several others. Once place that the car does not rust is the cowl, where the VIN is located. So if you see a car with any damage, welds, or filler in that area pay close attention. The markings around the VIN in the ad had me concerned, and the marking on the back don’t help to ease that concern.
The car is already priced fair. Any discovery about the VIN doesn’t have a material effect on the value of a nice looking car in the 30’s (IMO). To the sellers point, this isn’t a concours car. My advice
to the potential buyer was to go ahead and buy it if the price is right, just know that the next string of buyers could be equally scrupulous.
I have been warned by people more savvy than I to let these things lie. I regret contributing to the controversy. If you want to put any speculation to rest, apply paint stripper to the firewall VIN.
View attachment 82153View attachment 82154